US covertly offers $10-million bounty for data on Benghazi attackers

A vehicle and the surrounding area are engulfed in flames after it was set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR) / AFP

The US State Department has revealed it is offering a $10 million reward for any information on the attack at its diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. It comes amid ongoing controversy and criticism surrounding the investigation of the attack.

Four Americans - including US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens,
a State Department worker, and two ex-Navy Seals - were killed in
the attack on the loosely-guarded diplomatic mission on September
11,2012.

The US Administration, particularly former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, has been repeatedly criticized for its handling
of the deadly attack.

Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed the bounty in a letter to
Republican lawmaker Michael McCaul, who chairs the House of
Representatives Homeland Security Committee and had enquired
about the reward.

The bounty, which is a part of the ‘Rewards for Justice’ program,
is available for those coming forward with data that leads to the
arrest or conviction of any individual involved in the attack. It
is unknown whether any money yet been paid.

The announcement was not published on the Rewards for Justice
website, due to security concerns, the department said.

"Due to security issues and sensitivities surrounding the
investigation, the event-specific reward offer has not been
publicly advertised on the RFJ website. RFJ tools can be utilized
in a variety of ways, without publicizing them on the
website," the State Department's official statement said.

A State Department official told AP that it is unusual not to
advertize offers of rewards, but added that investigators have
other ways of making sure the information is known “as needed.”

He also said that the reward has been in place since January 7,
when Clinton was still secretary of state.

House Republicans have repeatedly raised concern over the
department not doing enough to catch those behind the Benghazi
attack. They had asked for an explanation as to why the suspects
were not included in US government’s ‘Terror Tip’ program.

Back in May, AP learned that the FBI identified five suspects
connected with last year's attack on the American diplomatic
mission in Benghazi. However, officials said they wanted to
collect more evidence before making arrests and trying them in
court.

In August, the US filed charges against former Libyan militia
Ahmed Abu Khattala, who was suspected of taking part in the
attack, according to American media. Officials said he and an
unspecified number of others were named in the sealed complaint
filed in the US District Court in Washington.

According to The New York Times, Khattala was charged with
murder. And while his exact role remained unclear, witnesses said
they saw him directing other fighters on the night of the
Benghazi attack, the paper wrote. Khattala, however, denied any
involvement in the incident.

The Obama administration has come under fire following the deadly
assault, for the low level of security at American diplomatic
posts in hot spots and for allegedly downplaying the scale of the
attack.

Several GOP legislators have taken issue with delays in the
investigation, evidently caused by infighting between the FBI and
the Departments of Justice and State.

In October, Senator John McCain went so far as to allege that
President Obama had been dishonest during initial media
appearances regarding the Benghazi attack.